Before engaging in a detailed analysis of SDPD patrol activity as outlined in the research plan, we created this descriptive analysis to explore overall trends in the SDPD RIPA data. This helps us determine if our expected findings are likely to show up in the data and allows us to identify any trends we did not expect. The analysis includes:

General counts and percents of SDPD stops by key fields in RIPA data, e.g., stop reason, stop result, calls for service, race, age, searches, officer assignment.

Total Number of Stops and People Stopped

In 2022, there were 86,632 unique police stops. Of those stops, 79, 416 were officer-initiated stops. Gang enforcement made 420 unique stops in 2022. Of those stops, 397 were officer-initiated stops.

In 2022, 96,119 people were stopped by SDPD, 88,099 of which were stopped for an officer-initiated stop. Gang enforcement stopped 508 people in 2022; 484 people were stopped for an officer-initiated stop.

Calls for Service versus Officer-initiated

The majority of officer time is spent on officer-initiated stops rather than calls for service. This is true across all officer unit types, as well as for the gang enforcement unit.

Analysis cut by all unit types:

Stop Counts and Rates by Response to Service Call for All Units

Year

Assignment

Call for Service

Total

Count

Percent

Average Stop Time (Mins)

Median Stop Time (Mins)

Min Stop Time (Mins)

Max Stop Time (Mins)

Total Time (Mins)

2022

All units

No

86,632

79,416

91.7

27.4

10.0

1

1,440

2,173,760

2022

All units

Yes

86,632

7,216

8.3

59.3

30.0

1

1,220

428,183

Analysis filtered for gang suppression unit:

Stop Counts and Rates by Response to Service Call for Gang Suppression Unit

Year

Assignment

Call for Service

Total

Count

Percent

Average Stop Time (Mins)

Median Stop Time (Mins)

Min Stop Time (Mins)

Max Stop Time (Mins)

Total Time (Mins)

2022

Gang enforcement

No

420

397

94.5

29.3

15

1

300

11,613

2022

Gang enforcement

Yes

420

23

5.5

123.9

120

20

260

2,850

Analysis cut by SDPD division:

All SDPD divisions spent more than 90% of its time on officer-initiated stops, with the exception of Mid-City and Eastern which spent over 87% of patrol time on officer-initiated stops.

Stop Counts and Rates by Response to Service Call by Division

Year

Division Name

Call for Service

Total

Count

Percent

Average Stop Time (Mins)

Median Stop Time (Mins)

Min Stop Time (Mins)

Max Stop Time (Mins)

Total Time (Mins)

2022

CENTRAL

No

17,492

16,280

93.1

28.7

15.0

1

1,440

466,435

2022

CENTRAL

Yes

17,492

1,212

6.9

41.5

20.0

1

420

50,301

2022

EASTERN

No

8,599

7,707

89.6

25.6

10.0

1

1,200

196,958

2022

EASTERN

Yes

8,599

892

10.4

61.4

30.0

1

540

54,759

2022

MID-CITY

No

10,033

8,798

87.7

28.4

15.0

1

1,300

249,843

2022

MID-CITY

Yes

10,033

1,235

12.3

52.3

30.0

2

480

64,552

2022

NORTHEASTERN

No

4,541

4,139

91.1

29.9

14.0

1

1,440

123,704

2022

NORTHEASTERN

Yes

4,541

402

8.9

75.9

45.0

2

600

30,507

2022

NORTHERN

No

13,859

12,797

92.3

24.7

10.0

1

1,330

315,534

2022

NORTHERN

Yes

13,859

1,062

7.7

67.1

30.0

1

1,220

71,295

2022

NORTHWESTERN

No

3,401

3,250

95.6

20.9

10.0

1

1,120

68,027

2022

NORTHWESTERN

Yes

3,401

151

4.4

69.8

60.0

5

300

10,541

2022

SOUTHEASTERN

No

7,746

7,117

91.9

28.6

10.0

1

1,400

203,877

2022

SOUTHEASTERN

Yes

7,746

629

8.1

75.0

60.0

1

480

47,147

2022

SOUTHERN

No

7,153

6,644

92.9

28.1

10.0

1

1,000

186,385

2022

SOUTHERN

Yes

7,153

509

7.1

65.6

45.0

1

360

33,371

2022

UNKNOWN DIVISION

No

2,799

2,779

99.3

16.6

10.0

1

1,212

46,214

2022

UNKNOWN DIVISION

Yes

2,799

20

0.7

86.0

40.0

1

540

1,720

2022

WESTERN

No

11,009

9,905

90.0

32.0

15.0

1

1,440

316,783

2022

WESTERN

Yes

11,009

1,104

10.0

58.0

30.0

1

600

63,990

Total Officer-Intiated Stops Over Time

The number of officer-initiated stops across all police unit types peaked in 2019, with a slight decrease in 2020-2022. The COVID-19 pandemic directly impacted police activity, making it unsurprising that there were less stops conducted overall.

The gang suppression unit has conducted less officer-initiated stops overtime, with a steep drop-off between 2021-2022. Notably, the gang enforcement unit made more officer-initiated stops in 2020 than in 2021 and 2022 combined. This suggests that the numbers are not driven by the COVID-19 pandemic but other reasons. Officers making gang enforcement stops might be doing it under the guise of a different unit assignment, resulting in the gang enforcement stops being under-counted.

Total Count of Officer-Initiated Stops Over Time

Year

All Units Total

Gang Suppression Unit Total

2018

69,766

1,501

2019

142,663

3,263

2020

116,754

1,592

2021

104,561

643

2022

79,416

397

2023

21,578

95

Total Officer-Intiated Stops by Police Assignment

Patrol, traffic enforcement, and field operations conduct the majority of officer-initiated stops, followed by the ‘Other’ unit category. While gang enforcement has the third highest rate of officer-initiated stops the overall count is low. This is most likely due to gang enforcement stops being conducted under a different unit assignment.

Total and Rate of Stops by Patrol Assignment Type in 2022

Year

Patrol Assignment

Total

Count

Percent

2022

Patrol, traffic enforcement, field operations

79,416

77,386

97.4

2022

Other

79,416

1,121

1.4

2022

Gang enforcement

79,416

397

0.5

2022

Investigative/detective

79,416

304

0.4

2022

Narcotics/vice

79,416

108

0.1

2022

Special events

79,416

45

0.1

2022

K1-12 public school inlcuding school resource officer or school police officer

79,416

43

0.1

2022

Task force

79,416

10

0.0

2022

Compliance check

79,416

2

0.0

Total Officer-Intiated Stops by Police Division

High rates of officer-initiated stops are consistent across all police divisions.

Total and Rate of Stops by Police Division in 2022

Year

Division Name

Call for Service

Total

Count

Percent

2022

CENTRAL

No

17,492

16,280

93.1

2022

CENTRAL

Yes

17,492

1,212

6.9

2022

EASTERN

No

8,599

7,707

89.6

2022

EASTERN

Yes

8,599

892

10.4

2022

MID-CITY

No

10,033

8,798

87.7

2022

MID-CITY

Yes

10,033

1,235

12.3

2022

NORTHEASTERN

No

4,541

4,139

91.1

2022

NORTHEASTERN

Yes

4,541

402

8.9

2022

NORTHERN

No

13,859

12,797

92.3

2022

NORTHERN

Yes

13,859

1,062

7.7

2022

NORTHWESTERN

No

3,401

3,250

95.6

2022

NORTHWESTERN

Yes

3,401

151

4.4

2022

SOUTHEASTERN

No

7,746

7,117

91.9

2022

SOUTHEASTERN

Yes

7,746

629

8.1

2022

SOUTHERN

No

7,153

6,644

92.9

2022

SOUTHERN

Yes

7,153

509

7.1

2022

WESTERN

No

11,009

9,905

90.0

2022

WESTERN

Yes

11,009

1,104

10.0

2022

UNKNOWN DIVISION

No

2,799

2,779

99.3

2022

UNKNOWN DIVISION

Yes

2,799

20

0.7

Stop Reasons

Traffic Violation is the most common stop reason for officer-initiated stops, followed by Reasonable Suspicion, across all police units and for the gang enforcement unit. However, nearly 70% of all officer-initiated stops conducted by the gang enforcement unit are for Traffic Violation, with only 24% being conducted for Reasonable Suspicion. Traffic Violation stops are a more significant majority of all gang enforcement stops.

Stop reason by police assignment

Total and Rate of Officer-Initiated Stops by Stop Reason

Year

Assignment

Reason for stop

Total

Count

Percent

2022

All units

Traffic Violation

90,777

48,926

53.9

2022

All units

Reasonable Suspicion

90,777

39,019

43.0

2022

All units

Knowledge of outstanding arrest warrant/wanted person

90,777

1,281

1.4

2022

All units

Investigation to determine whether the person was truant

90,777

734

0.8

2022

All units

Known to be on Parole / Probation / PRCS / Mandatory Supervision

90,777

553

0.6

2022

All units

Consensual Encounter resulting in a search

90,777

262

0.3

2022

All units

Determine whether the student violated school policy

90,777

2

0.0

2022

Gang enforcement

Traffic Violation

489

341

69.7

2022

Gang enforcement

Reasonable Suspicion

489

119

24.3

2022

Gang enforcement

Knowledge of outstanding arrest warrant/wanted person

489

16

3.3

2022

Gang enforcement

Known to be on Parole / Probation / PRCS / Mandatory Supervision

489

6

1.2

2022

Gang enforcement

Investigation to determine whether the person was truant

489

4

0.8

2022

Gang enforcement

Consensual Encounter resulting in a search

489

3

0.6

Stop reason by SDPD divisions

The majority of SDPD divisions conduct officer-initiated stops for Traffic Violation, with the second most common officer-initiated stop being for Reasonable Suspicions. There is no third stop reason that has a rate comparable to Traffic Violation or Reasonable Suspicion.

Notably, the Southeastern division disproportionately stops for Traffic Violation relative to Reasonable Suspicion, along with the Northwestern and Northeastern divisions.

Stop Results

Stop result by police assignment

Across all police units, Citation for Infraction and Warning (verbal or written) are the most common stop results, at 27.5% and 25.8% respectively. These two stop results make up approximately half of all stop results.

The gang enforcement unit stop results do not mirror the trends across all police units. The most common stop result for a gang enforcement stop is Field Interview Card Completed, comprising of 40.2% of all stop results. Warning (verbal or written) has the second highest rate at 20.6%.

Total and Rate of Officer-Initiated Stops by Stop Result

Year

Assignment

Result of Stop

Total

Count

Percent

2022

All units

Citation for infraction

95,543

26,229

27.5

2022

All units

Warning (verbal or written)

95,543

24,643

25.8

2022

All units

Field interview card completed

95,543

12,377

13.0

2022

All units

Custodial Arrest without warrant

95,543

10,317

10.8

2022

All units

No Action

95,543

9,129

9.6

2022

All units

Custodial Arrest pursuant to outstanding warrant

95,543

4,172

4.4

2022

All units

Psychiatric hold

95,543

3,793

4.0

2022

All units

In-field cite and release

95,543

3,136

3.3

2022

All units

Noncriminal transport or caretaking transport

95,543

1,410

1.5

2022

All units

Contacted parent/legal guardian or other person responsible for the minor

95,543

330

0.3

2022

All units

Contacted U.S. Department of Homeland Security

95,543

3

0.0

2022

All units

Referral to school administrator

95,543

3

0.0

2022

All units

Referral to school counselor or other support staff

95,543

1

0.0

2022

Gang enforcement

Field interview card completed

500

201

40.2

2022

Gang enforcement

Warning (verbal or written)

500

103

20.6

2022

Gang enforcement

Custodial Arrest without warrant

500

62

12.4

2022

Gang enforcement

No Action

500

51

10.2

2022

Gang enforcement

Citation for infraction

500

36

7.2

2022

Gang enforcement

Custodial Arrest pursuant to outstanding warrant

500

21

4.2

2022

Gang enforcement

Psychiatric hold

500

17

3.4

2022

Gang enforcement

In-field cite and release

500

7

1.4

2022

Gang enforcement

Contacted parent/legal guardian or other person responsible for the minor

500

2

0.4

Stop result by SDPD divisions

Stop result trends vary across SDPD divisions.

Hit Rates

This analysis looks at what percentage of stops that resulted in a search produced contraband. Approximately 70% of all stops that result in a search do not produce any contraband across all police units and for gang enforcement stops.

Hit Rate of Stops that Result in Searches

Year

Assignment

Contraband

Search Total

Percent

2022

All units

None

18,648

73.4

2022

All units

One or more contraband items

18,648

26.6

2022

Gang enforcement

None

190

70.0

2022

Gang enforcement

One or more contraband items

190

30.0

Age Demographics

Stops by age by poliice assignment

The gang enforcement unit stops more individuals between the age of 18-34 compared to all police units.

Total and Rate of Officer-Initiated Stops by Age Group

Year

Assignment

Age

Total

Count

Percent

2022

All units

18 and under

88,099

3,293

3.7

2022

All units

19-24

88,099

10,738

12.2

2022

All units

25-34

88,099

28,760

32.6

2022

All units

35-44

88,099

20,691

23.5

2022

All units

45-54

88,099

13,769

15.6

2022

All units

55-64

88,099

7,846

8.9

2022

All units

65 and older

88,099

3,002

3.4

2022

Gang enforcement

18 and under

484

48

9.9

2022

Gang enforcement

19-24

484

88

18.2

2022

Gang enforcement

25-34

484

174

36.0

2022

Gang enforcement

35-44

484

95

19.6

2022

Gang enforcement

45-54

484

41

8.5

2022

Gang enforcement

55-64

484

25

5.2

2022

Gang enforcement

65 and older

484

13

2.7

Stops by age by SDPD divisions

The Southeastern and Northern divisions disproportionately stops individuals age 25-34 relative to other age groups.

Race/Ethnicity Demographics

Stops by race by police assignment

The gang enforcement unit disproportionately stops Black and Latinx individuals.

Total and Rate of Officer-Initiated Stops by Race

Year

Assignment

Race

Total

Count

Percent

2022

All units

White NH

88,099

32,133

36.5

2022

All units

Latinx

88,099

30,234

34.3

2022

All units

Black NH

88,099

16,874

19.2

2022

All units

Asian NH

88,099

4,603

5.2

2022

All units

SSWANA

88,099

3,051

3.5

2022

All units

NHPI

88,099

870

1.0

2022

All units

Multiracial

88,099

513

0.6

2022

All units

AIAN

88,099

227

0.3

2022

Gang enforcement

Latinx

484

194

40.1

2022

Gang enforcement

Black NH

484

157

32.4

2022

Gang enforcement

White NH

484

89

18.4

2022

Gang enforcement

Asian NH

484

33

6.8

2022

Gang enforcement

SSWANA

484

7

1.4

2022

Gang enforcement

AIAN

484

3

0.6

2022

Gang enforcement

Multiracial

484

1

0.2

2022

Gang enforcement

NHPI

484

0

0.0

Stops by race by SDPD divisions

The Southeastern division disproportionately stops Black and Latinx individuals relative to other racial groups. The Souther division disproportionately stops Latinx individuals relative to other racial groups.

Map of Officer-Initiated Stops

This map shows the count of officer-initiated stops in 2022 by police beat for all police units and for the gang enforcement unit.